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Of Such is the 
Kingdom 



BY 



Evelyn Gage Browne 



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PUBLISHED BY 

THE ARPODENE STUDIO 
PiTTSFiELD, Mass. 

COPYRIGHTED 1918, BY EVELYN QAQE iROWNE 






^"D^^ 



TO MY BABY 



A rose-petal drifted down from the Garden of God, — 

And it lives in your cheeks' soft glow; 
A glory glanced from the Streets that the Angels trod,- — 

And it glints in your hair, I know. 

A ray streamed forth from the Land where no sun need 
shine, — 

And your smile imprisoned the whole; 
A strain stole out from Love's Harmony divine, — 

And it sings in your snow-white soul. 

A star slipped down from the Heavenly Dome above, — 

And it shines in your wondrous eyes; 
A prayer breathed forth from the heart of the God of 
Love, — 
And it pulsates in you — my Mirror of Paradise! 



JUL 29 1918 



^ t 



B-A-B-Y 

Four letters! — yet they spell so much; 

So many words — in one: — 
Pain, joy, the ecstacy of touch; 

The end — yet just begun. 

The stress of labor, sacrifice. 

The weight of care and fear; 

The lift of soul toward Paradise; 
Supernal smiles, — a tear. 

The blessed gain — of angel-guest; 

The loss — of mundane things; 
Strong fetters, chaining to the nest; 

The thrill of soaring wings. 

O tiny word! you mean so much, — 

From sordid unto blest. 
Dreams — of the things no hand can touch; 

Fulfillment — on my breast. 

Sunshine and shadow; crown and rod; 

Earth, Heaven that bendeth nigh; 
Hope, Faith, and Love; — and through 
Love — God ! 

Tis just B-A-B-Y! 



LULLABY 



Sleep and dream. 
Sleep and dream 
Of a Land that is fair, divine; 
God's angels come from their home above 
And whisper secrets of Life and Love, 

While snowy pinions around thee shine; — 
Dreams they seem. 

Seraphs sing. 
Seraphs sing; — 
And their soft and soothing lay 
Thou alone canst hear, so sweetly sleep 
And cuddle close while I vigil keep. 

Till fears all silently steal away; — 
Peace they bring. 

Close thine eyes. 
Close thine eyes; 
And list to the tale they tell: — 
"There are shadows along thine earthly way, 
But fleeting phantoms that fade by day, — 
For God is Love, and all is well; 
Be thou wise!" 

Slumber on. 
Slumber on; 
Remember thy dreams of bliss, 
Hold fast to the truth that the angels speak, 
Forget not the way we all must secK, 

Keep sweet on thy lips the Heavenly kiss; 
Darling one! 



Peace be thine! 
Peace be thine! 
And the angels' song, I pray 
Will linger long in thy gentle breast; 
For they sing of the things that are true and blest; 
God keep their melody thine for aye, — 
Baby mine! 



ANNUNCIATION 

When came God's angel, Love-entwined, 

And breathed into my soul, — 
"Thou shalt be blest of womankind;" 

My heart sang; yet the goal 
Was dimmed by mists of pain and fear. 

Shot through with rays of gold, — 
Fond dreams of clinging hands so dear. 

Soft form to kiss, enfold: 
Yet throbbing on with ceaseless power, 

A prayer — of self apart — 
Pulsed in my soul each waiting hour, 

And lifted up my heart: — 
"While fondling close the flesh so sweet,- 

Of this my dreams have been, — 
May I — caressing dimpled feet — 

Exalt the Christ within." 



BABY HANDS 

Baby hands so tiny, frail. 

Fragile as a flower 
On a slender drooping stem, — 

Great thy power! 
Thou dost hold my heart so tight 

Naught the bond can sever; 
While it lives and beats 'twill be 

Thine forever. 

Baby eyes, — -oh, thou dost see 

Deeps I fancied hidden; 
Thus I purge my thoughts — because 

Thou hast bidden: 
Keeping only in my heart 

That which shall endure. 
For thine eyes must ne'er behold 

The impure. 

Baby lips, — thy guileless kiss 

Bears me nearer Heaven, 
Wakens high and holy aims; 

For 'tis given 
Unto me to point thy way, — 

Thus do I aspire, 
That I may uplift thy life 

Ever higher. 



UNANSWERED 

I said, — **0 little lad with faith unbouaded, 

1 pray thou' It ever keep thy joyous heart, 
And thy calm trust that knows no thought of evil 

Nor feels its smart. 
May life seem just as bright to thee at evening 

As at its dawn, thy earthly cares as few; 
And may thou keep thyself as pure and spotless!" 
He said, — "Did you?" 

I said, — "May naught e'er dim thy faith in goodness, - 

The peace that shines within thy trusting eyes; 
And as thou'rt free from fear, keep thou forever, — 

Lest doubts arise. 
Then open not thine heart to lies that darken. 

But, shutting out whatever is untrue. 
Hold only to the things that are eternal!" 
He said, — "Did you?" 



THE WEE LITTLE HAND 

There's a wee little hand that drives my feet 

All day with remorseless will, 
Through the weary round of unending tasks ;- 

Yet I would not have it still. 

There's a wee little hand that lifts my heart 
Where the white-robed seraphs sing; 

And the hand that drives is the hand that lifts,- 
So I work, and love — and cling. 



ROSES AND THORNS 

So many ragged rents to sew, — 

For tiny feet will stumble so! — 

Such sordid things that crowd and press, 

And yet — a Baby's soft caress! 

In every stitch I place a prayer, — 

And find a rosebud nestling there. 

In little garments laid away. 

Is found the thorn; and so I pray 

For hearts that weep at each day's end. 

Where are no ragged rents to mend. 



FROM THE HEART OF MAN 



A stately mansion, — granite pile; 

A stately room, — all gorgeous style; 

A stately lady on the stair; 

A stately footman's stolid stare; 

Two stately, stiff-backed chairs that wait 

Before a stately, massive grate. 

A lonely fire, — no pussy there; 

No little lad at evening prayer; 

No winsome lassie on my knee; 

No tiny arms to fondle me; 

No good-night romp at playing bears; 

No gleeful rushing up the stairs; 

No ringing voices break the pall 

Of silence brooding over all; 

No feet that patter off to bed; 

No happy noises overhead; 

No "Good-night, Daddy!" comes to wake 

The echoes: just a lonely ache 

In stately house and stately hall, 

Wlhere stately silence reigns o'er all. 



OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES 

I whispered to my wee one: — 

"O darling baby dear, 
Why are your lips so silent? 

Why come so helpless here? 

What do your pure eyes mirror 
Of earth and mother's face? 

What music are you hearing 
In this new biding place?" 

And then,— was I but dreaming? — 
He looked and sweetly smiled; — 

My tiny, precious baby 

No longer seemed a child. 

"I speak the Spirit language — 
You could not understand; 

The world from which you called me 
Knows naught of this strange land. 

I'm fettered by this body, 

These fleshly arms and hands; 

You clothed me thus — a Spirit — 
With earthly bonds and bands. 

My ej'^es see naught but Heaven, 
As yet no earth-sights mar; 

My only Father, Mother — 

Is God; my home — a star. 



I list the angels' singing; 

My ears, attuned to hear 
The harmonies of Spirit, 

Are closed to sounds less near. 

So I must lose the glory 

Ere I can speak your tongue, 

Or use these fleshly garments 
With which my soul is hung. 

I must forget the splendor 

Of Heavenly beauties rare. 

Ere I can look with rapture 

On scenes you deem so fair. 

Earth-knowledge, — worldly-wisdom. 
Is foolishness with God, 

And dies with understanding 
That man is more than clod. 

I must learn — just to unlearn; 

Walk in this guise of clay 
Till freed at last, returning 

To Spirit — home for aye." 

And then my vision faded, — 

How real they sometimes seem I 

Just a tiny baby nestled: 

Yet — was it but a dream? 



TO MY LITTLE ONE 



Little feet that patter, patter, 

Tireless all the day; 
Baby lips that smile and chatter; 

Tiny hands at play; 
Starry eyes that shine and sparkle 

With a hallowed light divine. 
Where no shadows ever darkle; 

Blest, unsullied heart of thine! 

Would that 1 could guard thy feet, Dear, 

All along life's way; 
Keep thy lips as pure and sweet, Dear, 

As they are to-day; 
Kiss thy hurts away forever. 

As I soothe and heal them now; 
Shield, protect, — that harm shall never 

Touch thee — (Mother-love knows how.) 

I would teach thee God is Good, Dear, 

Changeless Love each day; 
Make life's problerds understood, Dear, 

Lest thou go astray; 
Turn thy clinging into power, — 

(Some day I must loose thy hand) 
That when storm-clouds darkly lower, 

Thou shalt smile, and understand. 

I would keep thy trusting spirit 

Free from fear's alloy. 
Letting naught impure come near it; 

Fill thy life with joy; 
I would set thy goal above. Dear, 

All thy pains and burdens bear; 
But I know that God is Love, Dear, 

So I'll trust thee to His care. 



CHILDLIKENESS 

Through clouds that darkly hover 
Above his head, 
His perfect faith he's keeping 
That shines the sun. 
Where thorns his pathway cover, 
'Mid blossoms dead, — 
He knows a rose lies sleeping 
In every one. 

*Midst billows wildly raging. 
With no surcease; 
While years relentless, hoary, 
Upon him roll; 
He trusts Love's calm assuaging, 
And stands at peace; 
And finds that Springtime's glory 
Lives in his soul. 

When spurned his best endeavor 
To serve and give; 
Though wrong seems victor, holding 
Him 'neath its rod; — 
He clings to Love that ever 
In Love doth live; 
And soaring, feels enfolding 
The arms of God. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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